Family activities at Shemer Art Center

By Lynn Trimble | August 24, 2012

View of Shemer Art Center and Museum along Camelback Road in Phoenix. Photo by Lynn Trimble.

Shemer Art Center and Museum, located in the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix, is welcoming community members to a special day of art-making that features several activities for children and families. The free “Demonstration Day,” from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, Aug. 25, includes artist demonstrations, make ‘n’ take projects, hourly raffle drawings and more.

Make ‘n’ take activities include printmaking with Larry Nisula in Studio II (10-11am), painting with Sue Hunter in Gallery I (11am-noon), hand-building ceramics with Alan Jones in Studio II (1-2pm) and drawing with Elliot Everson in Gallery II (2-3pm). These artists will also be doing demonstrations during the event.

Artist Christy Puetz, who holds a B.F.A. with concentrations in fiber art, printmaking and art history, will be leading family activities during the day. Puetz is a professional visual artist who has nine years experience as a teaching artist, has been a museum educator and is co-author of a book titled “Get Connected to Yourself and the World of Beads.” She’s worked with children and adults, including individuals with disabilities and serious illness.

Shemer Art Center and Museum offers art classes for children, teens, adults and families. Fall options include a series of six “Cultural Arts Activities/Projects” in which Puetz helps families explore and create arts inspired by Mexico, Japan, Africa, China and the Middle East. A winter “Art and Animals!” series with Puetz also features six sessions — Arizona Birds, Critters of the World Sculptures, Storytelling Quilts, Stackable Animals, Tiny Mighty Spirits and Creative Creatures.

The historic home that houses the art center was dedicated by the City of Phoenix as the Shemer Art Center and Museum during the 1980s. It’s named for Martha Evvard Shemer, who spent her Iowa childhood enjoying the many wonders of nature before moving with her family to Phoenix as a teen, where she attended Phoenix Union High School. She married Jack Shemer, had two sons and sold real estate. Martha Shemer purchased the three-acre lot and historic home and donated it to the City of Phoenix. The home was built in 1919, the year of Martha Shemer’s birth.

The Shemer Art Center and Museum grounds are dotted with lemon, pomegranate, grapefruit and orange trees, and the center recently announced plans to create a new sculpture garden. Artists age 18 and up are invited to submit a proposal if they’d like up to three of their works to be considered, and artists can apply as a team. Both stand-alone sculpture pieces and site-specific works will be considered.

The new sculpture garden will be revealed during the center’s fall festival, a fundraiser titled “Sunday at Shemer,” which takes place Nov. 4 and features more than 40 artist booths. Their Holiday Show & Sale is scheduled for the entire month of December. Find details about Shemer exhibits, classes, events, calls to artists and more at shemerartcenterandmuseum.org.

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